Teresita Romero believes she got her old-world work ethic from her parents, who raised a family near Guadalajara, Mexico.

Her father made pumpkin candies, which she remembers from childhood as being delicious in a bowl of milk. Her mother was a professional housekeeper, an occupation Romero took up when she moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1973.

She was employed for 37 years at the Ramada Inn in Monterey, which became the Bay Park Hotel, but suddenly found herself unable to work after suffering a bad fall outside her apartment complex.

"There was a big tourist ship (in Monterey Harbor) on June 24 and I was curious to see it, so I walked outside to take a look," she said. "I don't know what happened, but I fell."

A broken leg and foot put Teresita on the shelf for three months — not only an emotional and physical adjustment for a person who believes in work, but also a financial disaster. Mounting bills, including back rent that nearly reached $3,000, pushed her to the edge of eviction at a time when she had a lot of other serious things on her mind — especially the health of her 19-year-old son, Armando.

"I had revealed to my counselors around that time that I actually had attempted suicide," Armando Romero said. "I spent about four days receiving treatment at (Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula) at a time when my mom was running around, searching for financial assistance to keep us from being evicted.

"She's a very strong person," said Armando Romero, who is unemployed but publishes a regular YouTube "variety show," taped with his iPhone in the family's kitchen. "She didn't break down. She didn't pack up and leave. She was juggling so many things in her mind, not only worrying about my safety, but also caring for my younger brother."

"I get up at 3:30 in the morning to get him ready to go and make some food for us so we can catch the bus to San Jose at 4 a.m.," she said. "The bus takes about two hours, and then we take a train from San Jose to Palo Alto."

They return to Monterey the same way, usually getting home at 8 p.m. or later.

She credits her faith for helping her through the hard times. She believes deeply in God and prayed for help daily.

Help came from multiple sources.

She says her landlady, Jodi Flores, showed uncommon patience and kindness in allowing her time to work through her financial crisis. She is thankful for a woman from her church who heard about her difficulties and brought food to her home.

And Romero believes she might be homeless today without the assistance of the Salvation Army, which contributed $500 toward her rent, and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Monterey, which gave her $300.

"It was really difficult for me for the three months," she said. "It was hard not to go to work, and I also had bills to pay. Sometimes I felt like I wanted to cry. Sometimes I felt like running away. But I said, 'No, I can't do that: My kids need me.' So I prayed every day for strength because I knew I couldn't let down my children."

Her oldest son said his mother thrives on work and probably would have trouble with any kind of permanent retirement.

"She's a person who really likes things a certain way," he said with a laugh. "If you look around our house, you might consider it to be fairly neat and orderly, but she doesn't. She's always thinking, 'It needs to be a little bit cleaner ... I should vacuum again, maybe with that soap-making machine this time.'"

Romero has recovered from her injuries, but says she probably won't look for another job until Juan Diego's medical situation levels out. She would feel guilty, she says, asking a new boss for a day off every two weeks to take her son to Stanford.

"So I guess I am temporarily retired for a while," she said with a laugh.

Operation Christmas Cheer

Operation Christmas Cheer is sponsored by The Herald, the Salvation Army and 1st Capital Bank to help local families that find themselves in need this time of year.

Operation Christmas Cheer has raised more than $2 million, which has been distributed to needy Monterey County families and individuals over the holidays.

The money helps families who have come to the Salvation Army for support. Applications are screened and contributions will go directly to assist Salvation Army clients on the Monterey Peninsula and in the Salinas Valley.

During the coming weeks, The Herald will profile several families needing help this year.

A special feature of the Operation Christmas Cheer campaign is that contributors can have a brief personalized holiday message published in the newspaper by using a coupon printed each day in The Herald or by printing it from The Herald's website, www.montereyherald.com.